Is it a big deal if you fail an AP exam?
Asked by: Jailyn Ward | Last update: January 19, 2026Score: 5/5 (71 votes)
The most substantial consequence to failing an AP exam is that you will not receive college credit for the course. However, many colleges do not even offer credit for AP courses. So, you may not be missing out on an opportunity at all. Either way, you shouldn't look at this as a scary consequence.
Is it bad if I fail an AP exam?
Now to answer your question -- failing an AP exam is certainly not ideal, but it doesn't spell disaster for your college admissions chances. Colleges don't receive your AP scores unless you choose to send them. As such, a low score doesn't become part of your official high school transcript.
Does it look bad to retake an AP exam?
You should only retake the AP exam if external factors impacted your test performance the first time AND you're near-positive that the extra effort will pay off in college credit. There's really no other reason to retake an AP exam. They have a marginal impact in college admissions.
Do colleges care if I don't take an AP exam?
Historically, If you are not a senior, there's no big deal if you don't take the test. You won't have anything to report and you won't need to report it. Colleges won't be bothered if they see an AP class but no score.
Does it matter if you pass the AP exam?
The fact that your AP exam scores aren't a critical factor in college admission does not mean that AP courses are not important. While your actual slate of scores on exams is only of middling importance, AP classes themselves can be very important.
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Is a 2 on an AP exam bad?
While a 2 on an AP exam isn't ideal, it's important to remember that AP scores don't hold as much weight in the college admissions process as the actual AP courses and grades you receive in those courses.
Should I report a 3 on an AP exam to UC?
Although the College Board reports all AP test results to us, students should be aware AP test scores lower than 3 will not adversely affect their chances for admission.
Has anyone ever gotten a 0 on the AP exam?
Hi there! Definitely not a weird question—it's good to understand all aspects of the AP exams, especially when stress is running high. To answer your question directly, no, you can't score a literal zero on an AP test; the scores range from 1 to 5. Even if you were to leave the entire test blank, you'd still get a 1.
Should I report a 4 on an AP exam?
Not submitting AP scores for AP courses students take at their high school can raise red flags. But there are no hard and fast rules, such as not submitting 4s or 3s, as some suggest because, in some cases, students should submit those lower scores since admissions officers will assume even worse if they withhold them.
What is the hardest AP class?
- AP Physics 1 – 45.6% ...
- AP United States History – 47.5% ...
- AP United States Government & Politics – 49.2% ...
- AP Environmental Science – 53.7% ...
- AP Human Geography – 54.4% ...
- AP English Language and Composition – 56.1% ...
- AP Latin – 56.7% ...
- AP Calculus AB – 58.0%
Will bad AP scores hurt me?
On the whole, a bad AP probably won't hurt you in and of itself, but it can be related to other concerns. A bad AP score is often correlated with a poor grade in the corresponding course, which can hurt your GPA.
Does failing an AP exam lower your GPA?
Let's clear things up. Firstly, if you don't do well on an AP exam, it won't affect your GPA at all. Your GPA is calculated based on your coursework and grades in school. AP exams scores are separate from your school grades.
Is getting a 1 on the AP exam bad?
Key Takeaway: AP students who earn a score of 1 or 2, or average a score of 1 or 2 across their AP Exams in high school, have better college outcomes than academically similar college students who did not take an AP course and exam.
What percent of people fail AP Exams?
Historically, most of the 40 AP subjects have had exam pass rates of 60 to 80 percent. However, in nine subjects — primarily those in the humanities — pass rates have fluctuated between 40 to 50 percent and 70 to 80 percent over time.
Is getting a 3 on an AP exam bad?
As a general rule, the more selective the institution, the more applicants they will have with stellar AP scores. Think about how you will compare and make a call with that in mind! The bottom line is to remember that a 3 is a very good score! Congratulate yourself for taking on the challenge and doing well!
Should I cancel a bad AP score?
Colleges are far more interested in your course grades than your AP scores. They use them mainly for placement purposes and, in some cases, to award college credit.So before you rush to cancel anything, remember that you generally have quite a bit of control over which scores colleges see.
Should I report failed AP exams?
I only recommend that students self-report these scores if it can help them. If you are applying to highly selective colleges, they like to see 5s on AP exams.
What AP score does Harvard accept?
Credits are earned by scoring 5 on a minimum of four AP tests. Certain AP examinations test material covered in one semester only, and for each of these, Harvard confers only one half credit toward Advanced Standing. For more information, visit Harvard's website.
Is a 4 OK on an AP exam?
In the grand scheme of AP scoring, a 4 is definitely considered a strong result. It shows that you have a good grasp of the course material and are capable of college-level work, which is exactly what colleges are looking for. For most top-tier colleges, a 4 is seen favorably.
Do colleges care if you fail the AP exam?
It's natural to feel some pressure, but remember that your overall performance in the course matters more than the exam score itself. Now, to address your concerns: Failing an AP exam isn't ideal, but it's not necessarily a deal-breaker for college admissions.
Is a 70% a 5 on the AP exam?
As a general guide, though, you can consider roughly more than 70% correct as being in the 5 range, 50-69% for a score of 4, 40-49% for a score of 3, 30-39% for a 2, and below 30% would likely be a 1. Again, these ranges are approximations and can vary by subject and by year.
Are AP tests curved?
In other words, AP scores are not graded on a curve, but instead calculated specifically to reflect consistency in scoring from year to year.
Does UCLA accept 3 on AP test?
Credit from Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
UCLA awards college credit for AP exams with scores of three or higher.
Should you take both AP Lang and Lit?
For those intending to pursue English, literature, or humanities majors, opting for both AP Lit and Lang proves advantageous, as the skills acquired in AP English Language are highly applicable when tackling AP English Literature.
Should you report a 3 AP score to MIT?
MIT grants credit for a score of 5 on some College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams. It does not grant credit for secondary school courses teaching AP curricula, or partial credit for lower scores. If you take an AP exam more than once, only your higher score will be counted.